living in Joshville, Grobania

I love that Josh Groban! I'm surprised that I do. I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed his show. But he's wonderful. He's talented and seems personable and he's cute enough. The key to my attraction to him is that amazing voice. I was sure he was lip-syncing. There was just no way that huge, beautiful voice could be coming out of that face, that body. But it does and I got used to it. And now I love Josh Groban.

I met up with LA at the parking lot near the Delta Center - it will always be the Delta Center to me! - and we had a bite to eat before going to the show. Hanging out with her for the second time in 10 days was a treat! When we got to the arena, I was amazed by the energy of the crowd, and it was a crowd, a sold out show. Everyone was doing "the wave" and screaming and chanting and clapping in rhythm and the show had not yet begun. There was an announcement right before we came in that the show was being filmed for dvd release. That added to the overall energy in the place.

When the house lights went down and That Voice began to sing the first verse of "Don't Give Up", the estrogen level in the place shot up about 100%. The curtain was still down and all you could hear was That Voice and it sounded gooooood. The curtain lifted to reveal a band, a violinist, a cellist, and parts of an orchestra. Josh himself came up through the floor to major screaming and cheering, glow sticks waving in the darkness. Josh was energetic, waving to the crowd, running across the stage, slapping hands with people who reached out to him. I found myself smiling as the music began to fill my chest. I love that feeling, when you can feel the music inside you, the bass and the drums and the vocals. And the crowd. The energy and the noise generated by the thousands of people in the arena was outstanding. I've been to some great rock shows and heard adoring crowds, but this was on a whole other level! Maybe it had to do with the fact that there were people of all ages in attendance. Josh Groban's appeal is pretty widespread. I think it's because not only is he incredibly talented, but he seems like a nice guy. You don't hear about him doing things that make you wrinkle your nose in disgust.

He performed many songs from his newest cd "Awake". I was familiar with the music because I downloaded the cd from iTunes. (I love iTunes and my iPod, but that's another story!) Every song was just lovely. I had laughed at LA when she said that in Boise the audience was "in a trance," but it's true. I just watched and took it all in and loved everything about it.

The violinst was awesome. She performed a solo that was amazing, then she sorta channeled Eddie Van Halen into her violin playing and the band kicked in quietly at first, then louder as the song became the Led Zeppelin classic ... I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember the name of the damn song! I'll come up with it though. Anyway, it was incredible! "Kashmir"!! The song is "Kashmir"!!

After that song, Josh came out through the crowd, right by the section I was in. I couldn't see him, but he sounded great. He worked his way to the stage, slapping hands and singing his little heart out. Have I mentioned that I love him?

There was a song that Josh performed with the lady who opened the show, Angelique someone and I liked the song and the dance lesson that followed. There was a part of the show when someone in the audience gave Josh a straw cowboy hat and he sang a little "Wanted Dead or Alive". The same audience member gave him a pair of white sunglasses and Josh channeled Elton John for some "Tiny Dancer".

The show almost ended with "You Raise Me Up," but he came out again to end with another song, something "Remember." Dare I say it? It was incredible and I love him!

So I'm not quite ready to leave Joshville yet, but I can't think of any more superlatives to describe the show. I will say I was happily surprised. I expected to be happy just hanging out with my friend, and I got way more than I bargained for.